Compare towns
Danvers vs Millis vs Mansfield vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Millis has the highest household income ($156k).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Danvers | Millis | Mansfield | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
8,888Lowest |
23,931 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Millis and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.5% MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$125,273±$15kLowest 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$603,500±$31kLowest 7% above MA |
$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,696±$279Lowest 4% below MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Millis | Mansfield | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | Millis High School | Mansfield High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
11.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.